Sheet-separating machine



Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,293

F. J. BAXTER v SHEET SEPARATING MACHINE Filed 001:. l. 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 19, 1929.

F. J. BAXTER SHEET SEPARATING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jzvezfi; .172117.5 621???? Filed Oct. 1, 1927 Feb. 19, 1929.

F. J. BAXTER SHEET SEPARATING MACHINE Filed 0ct.1, 1927 heat 2 4 SheetFeb. 19, 1929.

F. J. BAXTER SHEET SEPARATING MACHINE Filed Oct. 1. 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet4 Ii?! 6 i III Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRANK JOHN BAXTEB, 01' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BHEET-SEPABATING MACHINE.

Application filed October 1, 1927. Serial No. 223,317.

. ance with what, so far as I know, is universal present practice, suchpages are printed separately from the main portion of the book and areinserted therein in proper position by hand and are commonly known asinserts.

In accordance with common practice, also, a considerable number of saidinserts are printed on a single large sheet, which is later cut to formsingle inserts of proper size. In printing large editions of books, as,for example, magazines which have a large circulation, catalogues oflarge mail order houses, and the like, large quantities of thedifi'erent inserts are, of course, required, necessitating a large runof sheets oi such inserts, said sheets being run separately and a countbeing kept of the number of sheets run.

Due to the large wastage which occurs in the printing and handling ofsaid inserts and, to an extent, to inaccuracies in counting, which isusually done by hand, by weight, or by measure, it in: uently ha pensthat dis-' crepancies occur etween t e number 01 sheets of insertsbilled and the number which are finally actuall available for use,frequently resulting in controversies and dis agreements between theprinter and publisher or between the printing and the bindingdepartments of large printing establishments, which take contracts forfurnishing the books complete. Almost inevitably, also, suchdiscrepancies result in large loss to the printer and binder, due toholding the presses and binding equipment, and idleness of the workman.

Obviously, it is much more economical and, therefore, much preferable,that the full number of inserts desired be printed at a single run, asto prepare the presses for a short run to make up a shortage will berelatively very expensive as compared with running the full numberdesired at a continuous operation. a y

The object of my invention is, therefore, to rovide a counting andregistering machine which the exact number of sheets of insertsfurnished on a given order will be accurately counted, thus obviatin allpossibility of variance between the nuin r billed and the numberactually furnished. l

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for countingsheets of Japer which will be simple, strong and dura le in constructionand accurate and dependable in operation.

.To effect theobjects of the invention, my improved counting machine comrises the various features, combinations features and details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, in which my invention is fullyillustrated,

Figure 1 is a to plan view of a sheet counting machine em odying myinvention and improvements j Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machineviewed from the lower side of Fig, 1;

Figures 2 and 2* are enlarged, fragmem tarI'y, detail sectional views;

igure 3 is anenlarged plan view, partly in section, on the line 33 ofFig. 1, parts of the machinebeing omitted; and 1 Figures 4 and 5 areside elevations, substantially similar to Fig. 2, with operative partsof the machine other than the sheet separating means proper omitted,respectively showing said separatin means at substantially oppositelimits of t eir movement.

Describing my improved sheet counting machine with particular referenceto the drawings, A designates theframe of the machine as a whole, uponwhich the operative parts of said machine are mounted. A desirable formof frame shown consists of spaced upright standards 1, formed, at thelower ends of whichare feet 2, adapted to rest upon a suitablesupporting surface as a bench or table indicated at a. The 11 per endsof said standards are connected y a transverse member 4 made in the formof an angle, one flange of which is disposed horizontally and the othersubstantially vertically with what may be designated its front facesubstantially flush with the correspond ing edges of the standards 1.Said standards 1 may conveniently and will preferably be made ofsuitable castmetal, preferably cast iron. The machine frame alsocomprises a plate 5, the front end of which is secured to the top sideof the horizontally disposed flange of the angle 4 and which projectsrearwardly therefrom, said plate being skeletoned or cut away in therear of the angle 4, as shown at 6, so that said plate will notinterfere with contemplated movement of certain actuated parts of themachine, the rear por tion of said plate thus forming two spacedsections 7 and 8 secured to which, adjacent to their rear ends, areupright standards 9 and 10. Formed on the standards 9 and 10 adjacent totheir upper ends, are frontwardly projecting arms 11 and 12 formed atthe outer ends of which, respectively, are hearing bosses 13 and l l.Specifically, the construction of the frame of the machine may be variedwithin av wide range, as my invention contemplates the use of anydesired or approved form of frame suitable for the purpose.

The operative parts of the machine are driven from a shaft 15 rotatablymounted in bearings formed in bosses 16 and 17 formed at the upper endsof the standards 9 and 10.

Speaking generally, said operative parts comprise means for supporting apack of sheets of paper to be counted designated at B; means forsupporting one corner of the sheets forming said pack in turned upposition as shown at Z); means for subjecting the'turned up corners 0tsaid pack to intermittent pressure to prevent the sheets from becomingjan'nned together; suction means for separately Withdrawing the turnedup corners of the lowermost sheet of the pack from engagement with themeans for supporting it in turned up position and depositing it inflatwise position upon the support for said pack; and counting meansassociated with said sheet separating means.

A very important feature of my improved counting machine resides in thefact that my improved machine is constructed and arranged for countingthe sheets of the pack from the bottom up, thus providing for placingadditional sheets in the machine on top of those already containedtherein, thus providing for continuous operation of the machine withoutstopping, until required amountfor one load or platform, which would beimpossible if the blanks were counted from the top downwardly, thusnecessitating that, when a pack in the machine is counted, it be removedand replaced by another pack, during which time the machine will be shutdown and idle.

As shown, the pack of sheets 13 is supported upon a table, indicated bythe reference character C, which may exen'iplify any usual or approvedform of receding table, of which several different kinds are old andwell known in the printing industry and which readily can be furnishedby mechanics familiar with the art without a description thereof indetail.

The pack of sheets B rests upon the table (1 and is confined thereon inoperative position with reference to the separating and counting means,by a suitable stationary frame, designated as a whole l), the sides ofwhich converge syn'imetrically towards the longitudinal center of themachine proper at an angle of ninety degrees, that is, the angle formedby the edges of a pacl: o't sheets. The frame D comprises side members19 and :20 and an intermediate section 21 which extends at an angle ofsubstantially 135 degrees to the side members 19 and 20, respectively,and which is riveted, spot-welded or otherwise rigidly secured to theupright flange of the transverse angle-shaped section connecting theside standards A of the machine frame. idecu red to and depending tromthe side members 19 and 20 of the stationary fran'ie B are side boardsor plates which are adapted to embrace the lateral edges of the pack Bwhen in operative position on the table C.

A shown, the means'for supporting the cor-' shaft 24 from the maindriving sh a it if) of the machine by a belt 2'? indicated by dotted liucs adjusted to grooved pulleys 28 and 29 secured to the shafts 15 andrespectively. The turned up corners 7) of the p: sheest B rest incontactwith the combing wheel 23 which, due to the fact that. the corners ofthe sheets of the pack engage .1= combing wheel at different distancestheir corners, respectively, preferably stantially spool-shaped,comprising conical end sections 30 and 3t and an intermediatesubstantially cylindrical and relatively small section 32, thuspermitting the corners of the sheets having the shortestengagenjientwith the perimeter of said spool to enter between the ends of said spoolso as to engage the cen tral portion thereof while the sheets havinlonger engagement with said spool will ongage the same at progressivelygreater distances from the ioi ,linal eente r thereot.

In addition to .ie combing wheel :23, the means for supporth I "he packof sheet B also comprises st. 1 stop adapted o contact n" the lowe n tof i Each of said stops compris arepositioned somewhat below the combingV spool 23.

Also, to prevent the turned up corners b of the pack of sheets B fromfolding over and becoming jammed into the space below the stationary stos formed by the heads 33, means are provi ed below said stationary stopsfor intermittently subjecting the turned up corners of the pack ofsheets to a pushing action which will prevent them from jamming into thespace below the stationary stops.

The stationary stops 33 are in duplicate at opposite sides of thecombing wheel 23 and are positioned in such relation to the supportingtable C and the combing wheel 23 that when, in the operation of themachine, a sheet is withdrawn from engagement with the combing wheel23means for which purpose will presently be described-the corner of saidsheet will also be withdrawn from engagement with said stops 33, thuspermitting it to fall flatwise onto the table C or a pack of blankssupported thereon.

It is owing to the described position of said stops 33 that it ispossible to make them stationary, as, if the separating means did notwithdraw them from engagement with said stops 33 they would not be freeto fall fiatwise upon the table, in the mannercontemplated and themachine would be inoperative. f

In the preferable construct-ion shown, also, the means for supportingthe sheets of the pack B in turned up position also comprises stopswhich engage the lowermost sheet of the pack B below and somewhatoutside of the stationary jaws formed by the heads 33 and in suchrelation that the separating means will not withdraw the sheetsfromengagement therewith. Thus, in order that the separated sheets may fallinto flatwise position on the table C it is obviously necessary, thatwhenever a sheet is withdrawn, said stops be retracted a sufiicientdistance from the pack so as to clear the corners of the sheets as theyfall into fiatwise'position on the table C.

As shown, said stop, which I will describe in the singular, isdesignated as a whole E, and each thereof comprises a bar 36 fitted toreciprocate endwise on a bearing surface formed on a foot 2 of a framestandard 1, be ing secured in position and guided in its movement by aheaded stud 37 which extends through a slot 38 formed lengthwise in thebar 36 and the lower end of which has screwthreaded engagement with ahole formed in the feet :2 of said side standard A. To pro vide foradjusting the operative position of said reciprocating stop, the stopproper is formed by a screw stud 39threaded to a hole formed lengthwisethrough the end of the bar 36, formed on which is a rounded head 40adapted to bear directly against the pack of blanks. The stud 39 isadapted to. be secured in different adjusted positions by means of alock nut 41, in a usual manner. 1

In the operation of the machine, longitudinal reciprocating movement isadapted to be imparted to the bar 36 and thus to the head 40 carriedthereby, by means as follows: Secured to a shaft 42 rotatabl 12 of thestandards 9 and 10 are depending lever arms 43, the lower ends of whichare connected by a cross rod 44 secured thereto in any suitable manneras by screws 45 which extend through holes'formed in the lower ends ofsaid levers and which have screwthreaded engagement with holes formed inthe ends of the rod 44. Said levers 43 are op eratively connected withthe rear end of the reciprocating bars 36-that is the ends thereofremote from the pack of sheets-by means of link members 46 and 47, theremote ends of which are pivotally connected to the levers 43 and to thebars 36, respectively, and, the adjacent ends of which are pivotallyconnected to each other, the connection of the link member 47 to the bar36 and of the link members 46 and 47 to each other being con structedand arranged to permit fiexure of each of said joints in one plane onlyand the planes of fiexure of the joints connecting said link members toeach other and the link member 47 'to the bars 36 being positioned indifferent planes, the axes of said joints being preferably positionedsubstantially at right angles to eachother.

\Vith the described construction, it is obvious that the bars 36 willhave great freedom of movement to conform to variations of alignment ofthe lines of connection between the levers 43 and said bars 36.

Pivotal movement is adapted to be imparted 'to the levers 43 to impartendwise movement to the bars 36 to advance the stops 40 into contactwith the lowermost sheet of the pack B by a cam 48 secured to the mainshaft 15 of the machine, co-operating with which is a roller stud 49mounted on a lever arm 50 secured to rotate with the shaft 42 to whichthe levers 43 are secured; and pivotal movement is adapted to beimparted to the levers 43 to retract the stops 40 from engagement withthe pack of sheets B by springs 51 which connect said levers 43 with afixed part of the machine frame. said lever arms by said springs iscontrolled and limited by the operating" face 52 of the cam 48 otherthan the portion thereof by which the stops 40 are advanced, whichlimits retraction of the levers 43.

Beginning with the lowermost sheet of the packet sheets B the turned upcorners of said mounted inthe' bearing bosses at the ends 0 the arms 11and Retraction of nozzles 53 which communicates with a chamber 54 termedin a header Said header 55 is secured to the outer end of a pipe 56,with the chamber 54 in said header in open communication with the boreof said pipe, the end of said pipe 56 remote from the head or 55 beingrigidly secured to a head 57, the end of said pipe, as shown,havingscrewthreaded engagement with a hole termed in said suction head.

The head 57 is pivotall mounted on a stud 58 secured in a boss 59 formedat the lower end of a lever 60 pivoted adjacent to its upper end to astud 61 secured in the frame standard 10. The lever 60 extends above thestud 6i and rotatably mounted on said extension is a roller stud 62which runs in contact with a cam 63 secured to the main driving shaft 15of the machine.

The means for supporting the oscillating head 57 also comprises arearwardly extending arm 64 formed thereon which is connected by a rod65 with one end of a lever 66 pivoted between its ends to the stud 61and mounted on said lever at the opposite side of the pivot from thepoint of attachment thereto ot the rod 65 is a roller stud 67 which runsin con tact with a cam 68 secured to the main dr' ing shaft 15.

The lever 60 and thus the head 57 pivoted to the lower end thereof isadapted to be maintained normally retracted by a spring 69 whichconnects said lever with a fixed part ofthe machine. as shown, with astud 70 secured to the trame standard 10. Also, the end of the lever('36 to which the rod 65 is connected is maintained normally depressedby a spring 71 which connects the arm of said lever to which said rod 65is connected with a rigid partof the machine as shown, with the stud 70.

ld iththe described construction, it is obvious that, as the shaft 15rotates, the conjoint action. of the cam 63 and spring 69 will cooperatto impart oscillating movement to the lever 60 to advance the head 57and thus the suction nozzles into contact with the turned up corner otthe lowermost sheet of the pack of sheets l3 and to retract said suctionnozzles, while the conjoint act-ion of the cam 68 and the spring 71 willoperate to impart oscillatory movement to the head 57 upon itssupporting stud 58 secured to the lower end of said lever 60, therelation being such that when the suction nozzles 53 are advanced intocontact with the pack of sheets B, said suc= tion nozzles will also bein their extreme raised position so that thev will just clear the nu 1oerside of the combing wheel 23 as they ad- Vance, and the relationbeing such also that substantially simultaneous y with the beginning ofthe rearward movement of the sue-- tion nozzles, under the influence bythe spring ('39, said nozzles will be quickly depressed substantially tothe position shown in Fig. i, thus cii'ecting dis:.:11gagement of theturned up corner of the lowermost sheet of the pack B from the combingwheel. E23 and the stat-ion ary stops The relation is such also, thatsimultaneously with the initial retraction of the suction nozzles 53,the bars 36 carrying the stop studs 40, will he quickly retracted so asto permit a sheet withdrawn and released by said. suction nozzles totall tlat upon the table C, and such also that said stop will bequickly' advanced into contact: with the turned up corners b of the packB as soon as the withdrawn sheet has been released and has as sumed aflat position on the table C To provide for adjusting the position ofextreme elevation of the suction nozzles 53, the rod 65 is ireterablymade in. separate sections connected. by a turn-buckle 72. Ohviously, byturning the turned buckle 72 to increase or decrease the operativelength of the rod 65, the arm 6% on the head 57 will be raised ordepressed, thus correspondinpgh depressing or raising the suctionnozzles 53.

Suction is adapted to be applied to the suction nozzles 53 at intervalsby suitable connection between said nozzles and a suction pump,notshown. As shown,saidconnection comprises a pipe 73 secured in a holeor opening 74 formed in the outer end of the stud 58 by means of aquarter turn fitting 75 and a nipple 76, in a usual manner, said tubebeing adapted to be connected with the suction pump by means of aflexible tube. not shown, connected to the outer end of said pipe.

The hole or 01 ening 74: in the stud 58 entends beyond the inner end ofthe nipple 76 and formed in the wall oi the stud is a hole or opening77, see particularly Fig. 2, communication of which with a hole T8formed in the head 57 and which in open communication with the bore ofthe tube adapted to be made and cut off by oscillation oi the head 57 onthe stud 58, in the operation of the machine, thus intermittentlvproducing suction at the suction nozzles Also a groove '79 is formedch'cuniterenti-ally in the outer surface ot the stud 58 adaptedintermittently to connect the open ing; 78 in the head 57 and thus thebore of the tube 56, with a hole or opening formed in the head 57 andwhich connects the hear ing' for the stud 58 with atmosphere, the relation being such that when the hole or passageway 77 is incommunication with the hole 78, communication of the groove 79 with saidopenings 78 will be cut oli'. and vice versa.

The relation is such also that the hole or pening 77 will be incommunication with the hole or opening 78 when the head 57 is in itspivotal position corresponding to engagement of the suction nozzles 53with the turned up corner of the lowermost sheet of the pack B, thusproducing suction at said suction nozzles and causing the sheet of paperwith which said suction nozzle is in contact to adhere thereto, and therelation being such also that shortly after the sheet engaged by thesuction nozzle is disengaged from the combing wheel 23 and thestationary stops 83, said passageway 77 will pass out of communicationwith the hole or opening 78 and the groove 79 will be brought intocommunica tion therewith thus permitting air to enter the tube 56 andsuction nozzles 53, breaking the suction at said nozzles and releasingthe paper therefrom, so that it will be free to fall fiatwise on thetable C or a pile of sheets resting thereon.

Mounted in association with my improved machine is a counter indicatedat F which, in use, will be operatively connected with a movable part ofthe machine, whereby said counter will register the number of sheetscounted by the machine.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the type specified, the combination of means forsupporting a pack of sheets comprising means for supporting one corneronly of said pack in turned up position, and means for withdrawing saidturned up corners of saidsheets from engagement with the supportingmeans therefor one at a time and in succession, beginning with thelowermost sheet of the pack.

2. machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means for supportingthe corner of the pack in turned up position comprises a combing wheel,and means for rotating the same.

3. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means for supportingthe corner of the pack in turned up position comprises a combing wheel,means for rotating the same, and stationary stops below said combingwheel.

l. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means for supportingthe corner of the pack in turned up position comprises a combing wheel,means for rotating the same, and stationary stops below said combingwheel, said stationary stops being adjustable.

5. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means for supportingthe corner of the pack in turned up position comprises a combing wheel,means for rotating the same and movably supported stops below saidcombing wheel, and means for advancing said stops into contact with theturned up corners of the pack of sheets and to retract said stops topermit a withdrawn sheet to pass the same.

6. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means for supportingthe corner of the pack in turned up position comprises a combing wheel,means for rotating the same, and movably supported stops below saidcombing wheel, and means for advancing said stops into contact with theturned up corners of the pack of sheets and for retracting said stops topermit a withdrawn sheet to pass the same comprising a rock shaft, armssecured thereto, the lower ends of which are connected to said movablestops, and means for imparting oscillating movement to said rock shaft.

8. A machine as specified in claim 1, in

which the means for supporting the corner of the pack in turned upposition comprises a combing wheel, means for rotating the same, andmovabl supported stops below said combing whee and means for advancingsaid stops into contact with the turned up corners of the pack of sheetsand for retracting said stops to permit a withdrawn sheet to pass thesame comprising a rock shaft, arms secured thereto, the lower ends ofwhich are connected to said movable stops, and means for impartingoscillating movement to said rock shaft comprising a driven shaft. a camsecured thereto, an arm secured to said rock shaft, and a projectionthereon which runs in contact with said cam.

9, A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means for supportingthe corner of the pack in turned up position comprises a combing wheel,means for rotatin the same, and movably supported stops elow saidcombing wheel, and means for advancing said stops into contact with theturned up corners of the pack of sheets and for retracting said stops topermit a withdrawn sheet to pass the same comprising a rock shaft, armssecured thereto, the lower ends of which are connected to said movablestops, and means for imparting oscillating movement to said rock shaft,comprising a spring or springs applied to said arms, and means to turnsaid rock shaft against the force of said spring or springs comprising adriven shaft, a cam secured thereto, an arm secured to said rock shaft,and a projection thereon which runs in contact with said cam.

10. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means forwithdrawing sheets from engagement with the supporting means thereforcomprises suction nozzles adapted to be connected with suction means,means for supporting said suction nozzles constructed and arranged foradvancing said nozzles into contact with'the pack and for retracting thesame, and means for depressing said nozzles abruptly at the beginning oftheir retraction.

11. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means forwithdrawing sheets from engagement with the supporting means thereforcomprises suction nozzles adapted to be connected with suction means,means for supporting said suction nozzles constructed and arranged foradvancing said nozzles into contact with the pack and for retracting thesame, and means for depressing said nozzles abruptly at the beginning oftheir retraction, said nozzle supporting means comprising a pivotedlever, a head pivoted thereto, a pipe secured in said head, a headersecured to the front end of said pipe in which said suction nozzles aresecured, and which is provided with a chamber which communicates withsaid nozzles and supporting pipe, and means for imparting oscillatingmovement to said lever.

12. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means forwithdrawing sheets from engagement with the supporting means thereforcomprises suction nozzles adapted to be connected with suction means,means for supporting said suction nozzles constructed and arranged foradvancing said nozzles into contact with the pack and for retracting thesame, and means for depressing said nozzles-abruptly at the beginning oftheir retraction, said nozzle supporting means comprising a pivotedlever, a head pivoted thereto, a pipe secured in said head, a headersecured to the front end of said pipe in which said suction nozzles aresecured, and which is provided with a chamber which communicates withsaid nozzles and supporting pipe, and means for imparting oscillatingmovement to said lever comprising a spring applied to said lever forimparting movement thereto in one direction, and a driven shaft, a camsecured thereto and a projection on said lever which rides on said camfor turning said lever pivotally against the force of the spring appliedthereto.

13. A machine as specified in claim 1, in

which the means for withdrawing sheets from engagement with thesupporting means therefor comprises suction nozzles adapted to beconnected with suction means, means for supporting said suction nozzlescomprising a pivoted lever, a head pivoted thereto, a pipe secured insaid head, a header secured to the front end of said pipe in which saidsuction nozzles are secured, means for imparting oscillating'movement tosaid lever, and means for imparting oscillating movement to the headpivoted to said lever upon its pivotal aXis comprising a rearward projection on said lever, a pivoted lever, a rod which connects said leverwith the projection on said head, a driven shaft, a cam thereon,aprojection on said pivoted lever which engages said cam, and a springapplied to said lever in opposition to said cam.

14. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means forwithdrawing sheets from engagement with the supporting means thereforcomprises suction nozzles adapted to be connected with suction means,means for supporting said suction nozzles con structed and arranged foradvancing said nozzles into contact with the pack and for retracting thesame, and means for depressing said nozzles abruptly at the beginning oitheir retraction, and means for making and breaking the suction at saidsuction nozzles.

15. A machine as specified in claim 1, in which the means forwithdrawing sheets from engagement with the supporting means thereforcomprises suction nozzles adapted to be connected with suction means,means for supporting said suction nozzles constructed and arranged foradvancing said nozzles into contact with the pack and for retracting thesame, and means for depressing said nozzles abruptly at the beginniu oftheir retraction, and means for making and breaking the suction at saidsuction nozzles controlled by movement in operation of the means forsupporting and actuating said suction nozzles.

16. A machine as specified in claim 1, which the combing wheel isspool-shaped,

In witness that I claim the foregoing my invention I aftlx my signaturethis day of September, A. D. 1927.

FRANK JOHN BAXTER.

21 S u) o

